Submit to your higher power.

I'm really, really proud to be from New Jersey. Sure, it's a state that's the butt of countless jokes, but it's also a place that's been home to countless amazing bands, Rorschach being one of them. For those unfamiliar with these guys, they were a band from 1989 to 1993 who proved to be hugely influential. Early on, their sound was fast and more reminiscent of traditional hardcore, and they went on to slow down the tempos and inject more sludge and dissonance to their sound, something that heavily influenced bands like Converge and Coalesce. Most people I've talked to love the later Rorschach stuff (the Protestant LP and other releases from that era) - and rightfully so, it rules. But personally I favour the earlier stuff (Remain Sedate, Needlepack etc) - there's a frantic energy to it that I just love.

With that in mind, you can tell why I dig this 1990 performance the band did on WFMU. The screams are more over the top and the songs are played faster, to the point where you think they're just gonna fucking collapse from exhaustion, Charles Maggio (vocals) in particular. In between songs and his laboured breathing he blurts out the ordering info for what was then their upcoming debut LP, Remain Sedate. There's a hunger in his voice as if he's saying to himself, "if enough people buy this thing we can afford to eat." Keep in mind too that this was done in a radio studio; there isn't a crowd there cheering them on, they were probably playing to one or two people sitting in front of mics and manning the soundboard. Still, they go through their material with an energy and urgency that most bands couldn't even touch in a traditional live setting.

I wouldn't suggest this as a good introduction to the band - get the discography CD, Autopsy, first if you haven't already. Chances are if you like the first half of that disc, this will blow your mind.

Don't mind the low bitrate - it was recorded off the radio so it's more than adequate.

Set List: Lightning Strikes Twice - Skin Culture - In the Year of Our Lord - Seconds in Hell (early title) - Laryngitis - Impressions - Pavlov's Dogs - No One Dies Alone - Clenching - So it Goes - Oppress

Rorschach - Live in December, 1990 on WFMU (128 MP3)